"Supporting the Alzheimer's Community:
The Theological Mandate to Welcome All of God’s Children”

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 has been chosen as the date for this year’s early stage event: On March 2, 2006, the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, Auburn Theological Seminary, The HealthCare Chaplaincy, and A Partnership of Faith in New York City sponsored the Second Annual Symposium “Supporting the Alzheimer’s Community: The Theological Mandate to Welcome All of God’s Children” at Auburn Theological Seminary.

We were delighted to have State Senator Liz Krueger offer welcoming remarks. Jed Levine, Executive Vice President of the Chapter provided an overview of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, focusing on the effects on the person with dementia and their family. Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, Associate Director of Community Education from The HealthCare Chaplaincy, Rev. Jon A. Overvold, Director of Pastoral Care and Education, North Shore University Hospital, and Judy Seicho Fleischman, Staff Chaplain at Housing Works spoke movingly on Living in the Moment: Spiritual Intimacy in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Rev. Dr. Jacobs read from her correspondence with an elder pastoral educator who is living with AD, and continues to be sustained by his spiritual and faith based activities, and his theological curiosity.

Rev. Dr. Fred Weidmann, Interim Director of the Center for Church Life at Auburn provided the theological response and introduced Dr. Andrea Frisch–Hara, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU. Dr. Frisch-Hara led a demonstration of the power of music therapy to create community and provide a means of personal expression within a group.

One of the highlights of the Symposium was the presentation of the first Sermon Competition Awards, and Rabbi Regina Sandler- Phillips of Brooklyn, NY reading of her first prize winning sermon, “Wandering in the Wilderness.” The runners-up were Rev. Shannon White of Mount Kisco, NY, and Rabbi Avi Olitzky, currently studying in Israel. Honorable mention was given to Vanessa Grajwer, a clerical student.

The competition was held to encourage communities of faith and their leaders to increase awareness and meet the needs of the growing number of persons with dementia and their caregivers in their congregations.

You can read Rabbi Sandler-Phillips’ and Rev. White’s winning entries by clicking here. The other two winning sermons will be posted shortly.

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